Who Should Vote?
There’s been some interesting discussion lately about whether certain people should be denied the vote. For instance, should people on welfare be allowed to vote, which vote may result in raising taxes on those who are paying for the welfare?
Logically you might compare it to a parent and child. The parent earns the money and gives the kid an allowance. Would it make sense for the parent to give the child a vote in how much the allowance should be? Many children would vote for an unreasonable amount and with no increase in assignment of chores.
I might mention this discussion is academic for the present because there is not much of a chance that any politician will recommend limiting the vote on anyone. If anything, they will try to get more people voting including illegal aliens.
Even so, the time will come that we will have opportunities to build more perfect societies so it is always good to discuss these things.
The core principle to consider is this. It is wrong that one who is not paying taxes has the power to dictate in any way how many taxes others should pay. It is the taxpayers themselves who should determine how much they want to give. Anything else leads to thievery.
Let us give a example. There are three homeless guys and a successful person with a nice home and lots of cash. Now if the successful guy decides he wants to give some of his money to help the homeless guys, this is well and good. He will secure treasure in heaven, according to Jesus.
But let us suppose the three homeless dudes force their way into his home and declare that they have just been given the right to vote how much of the producer’s money and property they can take. First, they vote three to one that they can now live in the guy’s house. Next, they vote on how much of the producer’s cash they can take. The producer says he’ll give then 10% but the majority of three vote to distribute 80%.
That doesn’t seem very fair does it? But that is what happens in our society when those who do not produce are given power to vote themselves money made by the producers.
On the other hand, the non-producers participate in society in many other ways besides making money and other things besides money affect them. There are quite a few factors in society that many non-producers should be able to have a say about.
Therefore, here is what I recommend. An elected body should not do the raising of taxes. They can recommend it, but should not be given power to actually raise them. Before taxes can be raised there should first be a referendum voted on by the actual taxpayers. If income taxes are to be raised then only those who will be affected and have to pay more should be allowed to vote on the issue.
On the other hand, sales tax usually applies to all and in this case all citizens should vote.
If property taxes are to be raised then only property owners should be allowed to vote for they are the ones who will be affected.
If Congress wants a tariff increase that will not cost citizens any cash outlay then Congress can make this type of decision.
If this basic rule is followed then taxes will never be too high. But humans are basically generous in nature and most are willing to pay what is fair.
The Fall of the Old
Reader: The only difference I have with J.J. is he believes this new age can be salvaged from the best of the old. I believe this present age has crystallized to the point where its destruction will be a blessing in disguise going forward.
JJ: I am with you in the fact that many of the ingredients of the present system will fail and be replaced by something different. The concern I have is how it will happen. If we do nothing and just let things happen then the system will fall and the chances are a great tyranny will surface along with tremendous suffering during and after the fall. This is what I want to avoid.
To avoid this, we need to build a bridge between the two systems where a new system based on freedom is being created as the old systems are crumbling. Then when the fall is complete we can have the foundation of freedom created for the foundation of the new.
The fewer the facts, the stronger the opinion. – Arnold H. Glasow
Nov 11, 2012
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